17 Days of Green – Grow Your Own

A major reason Andy & I left Alaska was to grow more food than we could in Denali. We hoped that by eating more locally, we could reduce our impact on the environment.

We picked a south-facing site between the existing rhubarb patch and 3 old apple trees.

We rented a sod-lifter to remove the grass instead of roto-tilling.

The garden site, cleared and ready.

Andy lays out salvaged beams for 6 raised garden beds.

We used 6-inch spikes to hold the old beams together.

We filled our raised beds with rich, organic soil from Long Wind Farm.

We added our own compost, too (aged compost on left, active pile on right).

A bit of organic fertilizer enriches the soil & gives plants a boost.

Completed garden beds, ready for planting. We mulched between beds to slow down the weeds.

Radishes grow quickly from seed. These lovelies are a "French Breakfast" variety.

An old sink finds new life as a garden washing station.

Romaine lettuces also grow easily from seed.

Broccoli starts purchased at our local nursery need support at first.

Tomato bushes need support, too -- these wire cages do the trick.

Our watering system is simple: a hose and a sprinkler.

An old-fashioned watering can is handy for spot-watering.

Our garden in mid-summer glory.

Pansies add glorious color to a veggie garden. Plus, they're edible!

Harvesting greens for immediate consumption.

Tomatoes, cucumbers and bean plants.

Carrots taste especially amazing straight from the soil!

Garden delight: dinner straight from the soil.

Mmmm... local food is not only green food, but delicious, too!

What about you? Do you grow any of your own?

17 Days of Green – My Hat Studio

When Andy & I first married, we lived in a 16’x18′ log cabin in Alaska, with no running water, no electricity, 2 miles from the plowed road in winter.

Our little log cabin home on Dry Creek, near Healy, Alaska.

It was rustic and cozy, and we loved it.

But there wasn’t much room for company, let alone space for my many fiber projects.

Family & friends visited for our wedding in 2001, but stayed in other cabins.

When we moved into our 1840’s home in New Hampshire, our living space increased ten-fold, and I was able to dedicate an ENTIRE ROOM to my fiber pursuits.

Talk about Heaven!

Green trim on the doors & windows of my felt hat studio in Canaan, New Hampshire.

Embroidered felt hats cover the north wall of my home studio.

Jungle green felt hats air-drying on wool blankets.

Embroidery yarns line the eastern wall of my felt hat studio.

I store my sewing threads in an antique sewing table drawer.

Did you know you can turn old bathroom tiles into dry erase boards?

Wine corks & bathroom tiles recycled into an office memo-center.

The back-side of my office desk, before adding dry erase tiles.

First tile up!

Dry-erase desk project completed.

My studio shrine: hand-blown glasses by Jordana Korsen, polymer horse sculpture by Luann Udell & wood-fired pottery by Becca Van Fleet Webb surround a photo of our Alaskan wedding.

Having space enough for a home fiber studio is something I’m thankful for every day.

17 Days of Green – Embroidered Hat Design Collage

For today’s green post, I present a collage of my embroidery designs, all green (naturally!):

Green examples of my embroidered felt hat designs.

I also updated my “Styles” page with all green hats. I hope you’ll check it out, and let me know your favorites!